Marlow (England)

Marlow[1] is an attractive town in the English county of Buckinghamshire. The town is situated on the River Thames in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, some 35 miles (55 km) west of London.

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Marlow is twinned with Marly-le-roi, near Paris. It also has a special relationship with Budapest due to the Tierney Clarke bridge across the river which is a miniature version of the famous Chain Bridge there. He built four such bridges but only these two survive. The Marlow Bridge is also the only suspension bridge across the River Thames. The town is home to British Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave and holds an annual regatta on the River. It is a very upmarket area, with house prices being extremely expensive, often upward of £750,000 (~$1.4m) for those close to the river. The nearest villages along the River of suitable walking distance are Bourne End towards Maidenhead, and Hurley towards Oxford. Those looking for a more adventurous walk can walk to Cookham (2miles) and Maidenhead(4miles). Henley-on-Thames is a more challenging walk of about 8.5 miles(11km).

Marlow is at the end of a branch line that runs from a junction with the main London to Reading line at Maidenhead. Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.

Marlow has a busy and active atmosphere and is packed full of coffee shops and restaurants. These features make it an excellent place for socialising or simply relaxing with a coffee and watching the wealthy (and others) go about their lives. Marlow has a park which borders the river where one can hire a rowing boat, or enjoy the views and wildlife (predominately swans, geese and ducks)from the safety of the benches under the trees!
It is also about an hour's leisurely walk from Bourne End if one follows the river Thames through the adjacent fields.. If you are too worn out to want to walk both ways, then the train (Marlow Donkey) is fun for all ages between Marlow and Bourne End. Once in Bourne End train station, there is a connection to Maidenhead via Furze Platt.

The Spade Oak pub near Bourne End is a great spot to stop for lunch near the river. It is found across the level crossing next to the Thames Path in Spade Oak Field and down a small country lane. Food is excellent.

There are plenty of cafes in Marlow, including a Costa and a Starbucks. However, there are also other, smaller businesses which do perfectly adequate refreshment! A cafe by the park is also very reasonable, serving warm meals and drinks as well as the usual sandwiches and cakes.